Inner City Public Schools Still Work: How One Principal's Life Is Living Proof!

By Dr. Mateen A. Diop

Inner-City Public Schools is a beacon call for everyone to take a close look at how effective our inner city public schools have been. Dr. Diop shares some of his life stories and how the public schools in his neighborhood shaped his thinking. With education reformists extolling the value and achievement of charter schools, to the peril of public schools- Dr. Diop is honest in his evaluation of the schools he has led and how he and his teachers set and achieved immense goals, resulting in the highest math scores in the school's history. Dr. Diop is also candid as he discussed the emotional struggles faced by his sister and how those struggles enabled him to relate to the anguish many of his students face daily. This book will show everyone, that there is value in our nation's inner city public schools and his life is living proof!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468579871

Dr. Mateen A. Diop

DR. MATEEN DIOP is a 16 year veteran of the public school system in San Antonio, TX. From 1996-2012- he has been a Teacher, Coach, Dean of Instruction, Assistant Principal and Principal. He is considered an authority on the issue of single-gender schools and has authored a book on the subject (Single-Gender Schools in the Inner-City, Can they Work?). He has written many articles on the educational achievement gap of minority males and his expertise has proven invaluable. A native San Antonian, Diop graduated from the San Antonio public school system, the University of Incarnate Word and Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He currently resides in San Antonio, TX.

Book preview

Inner City

Public Schools

Still Work

How One Principal’s

   Life is Living Proof!

Dr. Mateen A. Diop

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© 2012 by Dr. Mateen A. Diop. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 05/03/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-7986-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-7985-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-7987-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012906539

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Cover designed by Art Hosley Jr. Art1Media Graphics Design

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

PART I

Chapter One    My 9th Birthday

Chapter Two    An Apology to my Sister

Chapter Three    50 Cents and a Chimichanga

Chapter Four    High School Daze

Chapter Five    The College Years

Chapter Six    Military

PART II

Chapter Seven    I Touch the Future Everyday, I Teach

Chapter Eight    The Journey Continues

Chapter Nine    Flexibility is Youth

Chapter Ten    The Charter School Movement

Chapter Eleven    Final Thoughts

IN MEMORY OF MY BROTHER AND FRIEND

JAMES L. BLAIR

1960-2011

Thanks for being an example of leadership.

Thanks for showing me how to be a true friend and brother.

We can’t pick who our family members are, but we can pick our friends and I would pick you every time.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I have had the pleasure of working with many great teachers and educators; there could be a book written just on how they influenced me. Remembering back to third grade—Mrs. Smith, who taught me patience and how my hand would recover from a ruler spat. To Mrs. Foreman, my fourth grade teacher, who realized that I could read with fluency and placed me in the Kaleidoscope reading group. I will never forget sitting in class wondering why I was sitting with all the smart kids and actually reading what they were reading. To a man I can now call my friend, but in the 5th grade he was Mr. Whitaker. Mr. Whitaker was actually the first male teacher I had ever seen. Strong, with a presence in the classroom like none other, Mr. Whitaker commanded our attention. He taught me how to be a gentleman, he taught me humility and he taught all the boys in the class how to respect girls. More than anything, Mr. Whitaker was our math teacher. Everyone in our neighborhood knew all of our teachers. Our parents felt safe because they knew exactly who our teachers were and knew they were only a telephone call away.

To my friends of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Psi Alpha Chapter—Whenever I called upon you to help at my school—you were there! Whenever our children had a need—you were there. I can’t thank you enough for supporting the inner city public schools of San Antonio with your time and money.

To the many teachers, students and administrators I have had the pleasure of working with. Each of you has contributed to my spirit in a special way. To the first principal who believed I could be a teacher, Mr. Williams. I’m forever grateful and may you rest in peace. To Mr. Candia, what can I say about Abel—when he became my principal at Harris Middle School, he meant business! At his first faculty meeting, the athletic director asked me if I wanted to coach, to whom my answer was no. Mr. Candia called me into his office and told me that I would be coaching and he would see me after-school. What could I say but OK! Mr. Candia saw something in me that I hadn’t seen in myself. He pushed me as a teacher, he pushed me into administration and he molded me into the best educator and person I could be.

To the staff and students at Hirsch Elementary. When I was promoted to principal and walked into the building on that first day—I know you were thinking—what does he know? At the time, not much—but through the period I spent as your leader, you embraced every challenge and really did an amazing job of keeping me focused and teaching your hearts out. Much of what I write in these pages stem from my experiences with each of you. I just want to say thanks and I will never forget any of you.

My best friends—Kai, Alonzo, and Dexter; I know reading these words sound familiar to you, since I thanked you all upon completion of my dissertation, but I want to thank you again. We’ve had many days of talking and smoldering our favorite cigars while listening to each other clamor about our respective futures. During my dissertation journey, I know you tired of my haranguing but you listened nonetheless. Thanks to each of you.

Much love to my sisters and brothers. All of you provide insight in your own way and although we haven’t been the closest family in the world, I know each of you cares about the other. Ed (Lefty) the eldest of us all, you were my hero as a little boy and I’m proud of you for following your dream. Jackie and Elsie—it was fun growing up with big sisters. I was really sad when you moved away—but more excited when you returned to visit. John—you care for our mother more than anyone knows. I take solace knowing that she is okay because you are there. Thanks for being you! Norman—I know I send all my friends to you as their tour guide in Washington D.C., but I really appreciate all that you have been through and watch you beam with pride as your daughter excels—Great job! Mavis—much of this book is about you and I appreciate you being able to open up to the readers of this manuscript and become a testimony of will. You experienced what no child should have to experience, but God has made you a living witness of I’m still standing. Mother—although the stories in this book may not be too flattering for our family, I still thank my lucky stars that you reared all of us. I know it had to be difficult, but you did it and from all of your children—we love you. Thanks to all of you and I love you dearly.

FOREWORD

Success is determined not by whether you face obstacles, but by your reaction to them. And if you look at those obstacles as a containing fence, they become your excuse for failure. If you look at them as a hurdle, each one strengthens you for the next and nothing can stop you.

-Dr. Ben Carson

The world has changed tremendously since I was a student attending a public school. Education has transformed from a place where students went to school each day and enjoyed it to a much more complex state of children being coerced into attending school with daily drawings and giveaways. So you ask yourself, what has happened to public education? As a twenty-year educator, I’ve spent the majority of my career motivating, encouraging and educating inner city public school children.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with many passionate educators who dedicate themselves everyday to enhance the education of these said students. I had the privilege to meet and work with one such educational trendsetter. I congratulate Dr. Diop on the success of his leadership and his continued passion to educate inner city kids and I consider it a privilege to write these words.

After reading, Inner City Public Schools Still Work, I was reminded why I chose education and most importantly why I chose to work in the public school system. Although, I moved from the classroom to curriculum instruction and finally into administration, my greatest passion still lies within the classroom where you are able to change lives everyday. In his book, Dr. Diop takes the reader on a journey, sharing some of his most intimate personal experiences, from growing up in his urban neighborhood to fighting for funds to attend college. The story starts out seemingly as an autobiography that transcends the early years and intertwines personal experiences with public education. Yet through the socioeconomic and educational adversities he and his family faced, Dr. Diop’s unwavering belief that inner city public schools are indeed capable of ensuring the academic success of students is evident in his words.

This two-part book was written as a result of Dr. Diop’s vexation with the criticism and public reports written disparaging the education delivered by our nations inner city public school teachers. Most critically he alludes to the sweeping changes in society and the demands of educating children living in poverty despite all the budget cuts and staff changes. Dr. Diop debates the differences between inner city public schools and charter schools. Pointing out the most obvious difference being the freedom of CHOICE. The parameters for public schools lie within the attendance boundaries. Charter schools have the option of selecting only the top students and then trying to compare their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) data to their counterparts. Are we comparing apples to apples? While Dr. Diop makes it clear that public schools are in need of some reformations, his message is very clear-inner city public schools still work!

Stacey Lewis

Principal, San Antonio Independent School District

INTRODUCTION

Why this Book? Why Now?

This book has grown out of a life of trials and triumph. As a teacher, watching so many children blossom into success stories and also witnessing the tragic side of making the wrong decisions; I have developed an understanding of what makes inner city schools effective, and really the need to tell this story was inevitable. As a principal, I was often asked by parents and colleagues, how is it that your school seems to run so smoothly? Why do you not have a constant stream of students waiting to be disciplined lined up outside your office? I was always flattered at the compliment that my schools were successful and equally cajoled that someone asked me what was my